Favorite things about… My Favorite Wife

The synopsis:
After being presumed dead in a horrible accident seven years ago and spending all of those years stranded on an island, Ellen Arden has finally returned to the United States, where she hopes to reunite with her family. But she’ll soon find out that the reunion isn’t going to be a joyful one — her husband, Nick, has just married a woman named Bianca. Determined to win her husband back and regain the life she lost seven years ago, Ellen schemes to knock Bianca out of the picture.

(Image via Doctor Macro)

The cast:

Irene Dunne as Ellen

Cary Grant as Nick

Randolph Scott as Burkett/Adam

Gail Patrick as Bianca

Ann Shoemaker as Ma

Granville Bates as the judge

Fun facts:

This film was remade as Something’s Got to Give (unfinished, starring Marilyn Monroe) and Move Over, Darling (starring Doris Day)

A Porky Pig short called My Favorite Duck was released to spoof this film in 1942.

This film is loosely inspired by the poem “Enoch Arden” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, which tells the story of a fisherman lost at sea who returns to discover that his wife has married someone else. This poem inspired five films prior to My Favorite Wife, all of which stuck more closely to the source material.

In Move Over, Darling, Ellen (Doris Day) describes the plot of My Favorite Wife while posing as a masseuse and giving Bianca a massage.

Leo McCarey was set to direct this film, and even co-wrote the script. He had to be replaced when he was injured in a car accident. He would later direct Cary Grant in Once Upon a Honeymoon and An Affair to Remember.

In the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, Nick (Dennis Quaid), upon seeing Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson), imitates the scene in which My Favorite Wife‘s Nick (Cary Grant) sees Ellen (Irene Dunne) for the first time in seven years.

The film was nominated for three Oscars: best black and white art direction, best original score and best writing.

(Image via Doctor Macro)

Favorite things/quotes:

The embroidered opening credits

Judge: “STOP INTERRUPTING!”

The judge being blinded by Bianca’s compact and telling her she ought to wash her face instead of paint it

Ellen seeing the kids again for the first time

Tim: “Daddy says he doesn’t want her to look like a moose when she grows up!”

Nick’s mom: “He met this one on the boat… when he went to look for you”

Ellen: “DO PLANES FLY TO YOSEMITE?”

Irene’s wardrobe

The older lady side-eyeing Ellen’s too-long hemline

Cary leaning as the elevator door closes

The waiter delivering the champagne “with the compliments of an old friend” (and the face Nick makes upon hearing this)

Nick trying to find excuses to leave the suite

The matching leopard robes

Bartender: “There’s an ordinance in this state that don’t allow necking in barrooms”

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